Tool for twisting fence wire securing staples



H. MOFFETT Aug. 7, 1956 Filed Sept. 2;, 1955 \w MN 4 x w 9 m i m Q m m TR/ E f T V 1.2 75%;; m v r] A N 0 km II. M Ii l .9 figgg aa 7 Z m HY Bww NM w 2 1 7/ W v k & mm

United States Patefit O 75: .i n 7;.1' v

v STAPL 4 HarryMoifett, Fresno, Calif.

7 Application September 21, .1953, Serial No. 381,444 1 Clainn (Cl.140-57 Tool. FQRJTWISTING WIRE SECUMNG shank-supported jaws onto theprojecting legs of a fence wire securing staple preparatory to twistingsaid legs together by manipulation of a hand crank which forms P of theQ9 for additional object of the invention is to provide a tool,' as i nthe preceding paragraph, wherein the, shank retracting mechanism issimple in structure, positive-in action, quick operating, andself-locking-to .hold. the jaws closed during a staple twistingoperation-abut easily e a ble- A further object of the invention is toprovide a tool, as above, in which the shank retracting mechanismincludes a novel swing lever actuated rotary crank pin assemblyoperative to retract the shank and close the jaws upon swinging of thelever to a predetermined stop position; the crank pin assembly thenbeing in an overdead center position in a direction to hold the shankretracted and the jaws closed.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a tool, for twistingfence wire securing staples, which is designed for ease and economy ofmanufacture.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a practical andreliable tool for twisting fence wire securing staples, and one whichwill be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

The objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relativearrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the followingspecification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the tool as in use; the shank retractingmechanism being in its releasably locked jaw closing position.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional elevation, with the shankretracting mechanism released; the shank being in its advanced positionand the jaws open.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view, partly in section, taken on line 33of Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings and to the characters ofreference marked thereon, the tool comprises a cylindrical hand gripblock 1 which is somewhat elongated, while a substantially longer barrel2 is slidably disposed in the block 1, projecting therefrom at bothends.

At the rear end the barrel 2 is fitted with a hand crank, indicatedgenerally at 3, which includes a radial or crank arm 4 having a hub 5 onthe inner end threadingly secured to the adjacent end of the barrel 2.At the outer end the crank arm 4 is fitted with a handle 6.

prevented by a cross pin 11 which projects through the 2 A 'shank 7 isslidable in the elongated barrel 2 and said shank, from the forward endrearwardly a substantial distancais longitudinally split, as at 8, withcooperating.

jawsj9 formed on the split ends. I

The jaws 9 are rearwardly and inwardly tapered, as at 10, with the jawtaper having matching engagement with a corresponding taper in theforward end pr throat of the barrel 2. With this arrangement retractionof the slidable shank 7 from an initially'advanced position, as

in Fig. 2, causes the jaws 9 to close, as in Fig. 1..

Rotation of the slidable shank 7 in the barrel 2 is longitudinal split 8between opposite sides of said barrel. The cylindrical block 1 is fixedin connection, at the top thereof, with a pair of forwardly projecting,transversely spaced bars 12having a down-turnedhook structure 13 on theforward ends thereof; such hook structure cooperatively engaging with atoolsupporting and locating guide block 14 vertically adjustably securedto an upright or post 15 supported from the ground and adjacent thefence by, a pedestal (not shown).

The tool supporting and locating guide block 14 includes a cradle 16which receives a horizontal fence wire 17, while a shelf, 18 whichprojects from the post 15 at a lower point supports the lower end of avertical stay wire 19 which intersects, the horizontal fencewire 17.

Within the,t'ool supporting .and locating guide block 14 the wires 17and 19 are connected together by an initially parallel leg staple,indicated generally at 20; the legs of such staple projecting toward andbeing clamped. between the jaws 9, when the shank 7 is retracted by themechanism hereinafter described. Subsequent manual rotation of thebarrel 2 by the crank 3 twists the staple legs together, in the mannershown in Fig. l, and effec' tively cinches the staple about the wires"17 and 19 to secure them together.

The foregoing general assembly of the tool is substantially the same asshown in the issued patent hereinbefore identified; such patent,however, having embodied a different and more difficult to operate shankretracting mechanism than that here shown generally at 21, and whichlatter mechanism comprises the essence of the instant invention.

The shank retracting mechanism 21 is constituted of a pair oftransversely spaced ears 22 which project rearwardly from the crank hub5 on the barrel 2, and a relatively short crank pin 23 is journaled inconnection with and extends between the ears 22. The crank pin 23includes a central eccentric or crank portion 24, the ends of which arespaced from the ears 22.

The slidable shank 7 is formed, at its rear end, with a rearwardlyprojecting, fiat attachment eye 25 which projects out of the hub 5, andin which eye the eccentric or crank portion 24 is journaled.

The numeral 26 indicates a lever arm which is forked at its inner end todefine flat fork eyes 27 which surround the crank pin 23 betweencorresponding ends of the eccentric or crank portion 24 and the cars 22;said fork eyes 27 being fixed to the crank pin 23 by radial keys 28.

The ears 22 are disposed so that the lever arm 26 in one to the positionof Fig. l with said arm abutting flush against the crank arm 4, theeccentric or crank portion 24 turns to the rear, retracting the shank 7and jaws 9,

Patented Aug. 7,

resulting in closing of the latter. As the eccentric or crank portion 24reaches its rearmost position it is slightly beyond dead-center,which-under the influence of the tension on shank 7-tends to self-lockthe lever arm 26 against the crank arm 4.

The fork eyes 27 are formed so that their axes are offset rearwardlyfrom the major longitudinal plane of the lever arm 26 when the latterlies in abutment with the crank arm 4.

By the simple expedient of manually swinging the lever arm 26 from itsreleased position, as in Fig. 2, to its locked or holding position, asin Fig. l, the shank 7 and jaws 9 are retracted under tension; such jawsclosing on the initially parallel legs of the staple 20, and being heldso closed by the beyond-dead-center disposition of the eccentrie orcrank portion 24, holding the lever arm 26 in said locked position andwherein it is out of the Way.

With the jaws 9 thus effectively clamped on the legs of the staple 20,the barrel 2, together with the shank 7, is rotated by the hand crank 3,effectively twisting the legs of the staple together, in the mannershown in Fig. l, and which staple thereafter maintains the wires 17 and19 secured together.

For a more specific disclosure of the exact form and operation of thehook structure 13 and the tool supporting and locating guide block 14,reference is made to the hereinbefore identified issued patent.

The present invention, in the novel shank retracting mechanism 21,provides an advantageous structure and one which greatly facilitates theattachment to, and operation of the tool in connection with, a staple tobe twisted.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there hasbeen produced such a device as will substantially fulfill the objects ofthe invention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferredconstruction of the device, still in practice such deviations from suchdetail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit ofthe invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new anduseful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

A gripping and twisting tool including a hand crank secured on the rearend thereof, a shank slidable in the barrel, a jaw assembly on the shankat the front end of the barrel, cooperating elements on the barrel andjaw assembly to close the latter upon retraction of the shankrearwarttly in said barrel, manually actuated mechanism for soretracting the shank comprising a crank pin disposed transversely at therear of the barrel, transversely spaced ears in which the crank pin isjournaled on opposite sides of the crank thereof, said ears beingmounted in fixed connection with the barrel, an eye on the rear end ofthe shank and in which the crank of the pin is turnably journaled, alever arm forked at one end, the forks being formed as eyes and the pinbeyond the crank thereof projecting through said fork eyes, and meanssecuring said fork eyes to the pin; swinging of the lever arm from oneposition to another rotating the pin in a direction and to an extent todispose the crank of said pin in a position to so retract the shank; andthe lever arm when in said other position lying substantially radiallyof the barrel and in engagement with the radial crank arm included inthe hand crank.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,795,625 Van Slyke Mar. 10, 1931 1,903,830 Moffett Apr. 18, 19331,970,924 Van Slyke Aug. 21, 1934 2,048,460 Moffett July 21, 19362,214,267 Bednarck Sept. 10, 1940 2,297,174 Tabb Sept. 29, 1942

